Susan Boyle ‘welcome back anytime’ after surprise birthday visit

Brendan McDaid

International singing sensation Susan Boyle was a ‘star turn’ as she posed for photos with local people during a birthday night out in Derry at the weekend by all accounts.

International singing sensation Susan Boyle was a ‘star turn’ as she posed for photos with local people during a birthday night out in Derry at the weekend by all accounts.

A flood of pictures of the Scottish star happily smiling alongside local people have appeared on social media sites after Susan dropped in to The Dungloe Bar on Waterloo Street on her 55th birthday on Friday evening.

Dungloe owner Kevin Daly said staff at the bar have described Susan as being really nice to talk with.

Mr Daly said: “She just landed in on Friday night with another person.

“There seems to have been some excitement in the bar, and people getting photos taken.

“She was just relaxing, chilling with a glass of wine. She stayed for a few and then left.

“Apparently, all the staff were saying, she was very nice to talk to.

“She is welcome back any time,” he added.

Susan Boyle was catapulted to fame after her note-perfect rendition of ‘I Dreamed A Dream’ from Les Miserables on Britain’s Got Talent stunned audiences across the globe six years ago.

The accomplished artist has gone on to top the charts throughout the world with a string of best-selling albums.

But Susan, who comes from Blackburn in West Lothian in Scotland, has kept her feet firmly on the ground and is no stranger to the north west of Ireland, having visited Inishowen and Derry on several occasions, and again graciously chatting with fans and posing for photographs.

It is understood the star has family connections in the Donegal region.

Some local people were Tweeting that Susan was on the same flight as themselves from City of Derry Airport in Eglinton to Glasgow on Sunday.

There has been some joking online that Susan may return to take the mic at a karaoke night in Derry this week.

And Mr Daly said Susan Boyle is always welcome to return and headline at her own concert in the recently refurbished Dungloe.